We will let Osama Kreuger be for now, and focus on the free mind and the power it possesses . A power even democratic governments and leaders are afraid of. In the light of terrorism and the so-called war against it one question has kinda forced itself on though:All my life I've been speaking up against violence, be it the beating up of individuals by other individuals or terrorism or totalitarian regimes or whoever; but:Are we starting to get to the point that the only way to get heard and taken notice of will be by, at least a minimum of violence?Not just the worst kind against innocent civilians that we know from the news on TV (the terrorism against civilians we'll address later on, and the biggest terrorists might not be only the ones carrying the label) - but before I continue; this is not to urge anyone to commit crimes of violence - God forbid! - but more about violence committed in order to get attention on more subtle levels.
I am a man in doubt, and a man feeling sad and bewildered...so here we'll only ask some questions in our quest for insights...
I wonder if doing things that risks lives, and will quite literally bring harm to infrastructure or whatever; for more and more people now is starting to look like the only viable way to get through...
There is indeed a lot going on that could point to an increase of violence might also be rooted in a desperation caused by a spiritual emptiness. One of many scary signs in a modern world that sees little or no value in nurturing the spiritual sides of being human. Should that be the case, it will be one of many reasons for the increase in violence in western secular societies, and one more of an seemingly endless amount of troubles in a very troubled western world...
Troubles that rarely are seen in a broader context than the one offered us by materialistic values held so dear to the leaders, business men and women, and politicians. More than we know are also huge multi-national companies pulling the strings and making sure these troubles and problems facing us will remain to be seen as a 'nail'; leaving us only the hammer as a tool.Reuters and the Associated Press are both owned, and to a degree that it is hard to tell; also controlled by the richest of the rich; the House of Rothchild . Just how hard to tell...well; maybe not so hard after all.
"Whoever controls the volume of money in any country is
the master of all its legislation and commerce."
President James A. Garfield
These companies does in turn own more than it's fair share of all the smaller news agencies, so the question inevitably becomes:How to get ones message across when the media, the governments of the world, esp the rich ones are under a fairly direct control of big companies, banks and of course the few rich families who owns them.On the internet like this blog?Probably not, though it is one way to spread the word if nothing else.Political parties?Probably not as people who speaks about freedom and a way of life free of political agendas will not rise to power; and certainly not to a power the will have no interest in gaining; just as the corruption of the mind will be a companion to those rising to power.Media, though so much is under control and is subjected to a form of censorship; is an option to get small segments through; but not a larger message; so...?Is it any wonder some gets desperate and takes up the armed and violent way?That's what I wonder, and I find myself doubting...Will we wake up to miss the loss of spirit and enchantment before it is too late? I fear the very question sounds meaningless to most; though I most certainly hope not...Questions, questions.
Maybe some answers will reveal themselves?Maybe they won't; if not let's try and find some anyway...Please don't be alarmed by the lack of answers. Our journey has just begun...How to keep a free spirit and consciousness in the western world?
1:
It is one formidable question, and I feel a bit like a person thrown into the deepest water while trying to learn how to swim. The greatest of thinkers has addressed this in countless books, seminars and think-tanks. What can an amateur-philosopher possibly have to contribute?
To be honest, I really don't know. All I know is that there is one value we all are relating to; whether we like it or not and whether we know it or not. Nature.
Thoughts and emotions rooted in this most basic value are suppressed in our modern contemporary society, so I thought we could try to address it here. We will ease into it; taste carefully the fruits of the forbidden tree. Revisit an outlook on the world and ourselves that's seemingly gone and forgotten...Though it's not. These are values safely buried in our deepest self. Our bodies. Hopefully will we find words that helps us define the values and fill a bit of the void in us, a creation of a materialistic world-view and the race for financial riches.
The question with all it's implication, is one best not asked over the dinner-table or most social gatherings. It is not something politicians will address, nor will you find it on the agenda in the schools even.
It has become a bit of a 'better not ask for your own peace of mind' for some reason. (We will address some reasons for this later on...)
In totalitarian regimes one will probably risk ones life even by asking related questions...
How did it come to be so?
When did we lose interest of such fundamental questions and their importance for us as human beings; as spiritual human beings; when?
Yet the question and all the implications which permeates just about every subject taught in school; defines us as human beings and individuals, is one of paramount importance and loosing sight of what this means for us, is one of the true tragedies of the Western world and culture.
The dangers that follows when a society turns indifferent, are many and massive. One of them being that ideas that fall outside the 'normal' - as defined by a majority at any given time - ways of thinking, behaving and living; will be viewed as not 'normal'. Since normality is not a with-born human value like empathy or compassion or any other human value found among be it tribal or highly modern urban people, but is ever changing with what is any majority's way; ethics and the most fundamental and true human values takes the backseat.
Thus it creates an often moralistic outlook, so ready to judge and punish anything falling outside of the norms agreed upon, and leaves little or no room for truly inspired ideas and a truly free and inspired mind. In such a restricted society, the brutal lack of freedom and an indifference disguised as normality, will in the final end create a space for extremists.
Ideas even further away from our with-born natural values will find place to grow and look attractive for people searching to fill the void created by normality.
Given more and more people will not find acceptance by and in their immediate surroundings, more will turn to the ways of extremists. Violence will more often than not look as a viable option; and religion will once again breed followers willing to die for the 'cause'. The cause often being a despair born from poverty and hopelessness, fueled by distorted interpretations of Holy scripts - be it Christianity or Islam - and executed by young, angry and emotionally scarred and mistreated men and women who'd rather die a martyr than continue living a life with no future...
Are we getting there?
Are we close?
Have we gotten there?
What will that mean for the inspired mind?
2:
When I was a kid, i never worried about these things. Inspiration was part of the magic of life, and I felt it deep in every inch of my being when walking in the woods and on the mountains. I was lucky to grow up on the country side, and got to see wild animals living in the wild.
All that I later came to feel so strongly about, was then a part of my very being.
To mirror myself in the eyes of a wild animal taught me more about life than anything I would learn in school and among fellow human beings in the civilization I was born into and have lived my life in.
I started to hunt when I was 14 years old. Me and my best friend would walk and live for days in the wild, we picked berries and fished. Hunted for grouse and hare which became dinner for all in the household later on.
Back then I hardly put into words the values that mother nature gave me. I would embrace them as they embraced me; gave me an understanding that now, decades later, I can put into words and I am just grateful.
Grateful for an understanding that has served as my beacon of light in a society where the 'normal' values embraced are just about all linked up to a strict mechanical paradigm and a capitalism gone wild.
When thinking back on my youth and the many days living in the wild surrounded by mother nature, I can't help but feel a sadness coming over me as I am reminded of values and ways of life that has gone into oblivion and is no more...
The contrast of waking up to a morning mist under the protective umbrella of huge branches spreading like wings from mighty pine trees; the song of birds and the smell of cold wet air; to waking up to the sound of the morning rush, is a contrast of colliding worlds.